Protection circuit module and rechargeable battery including the same

Abstract

A protection circuit module of a rechargeable battery comprises a substrate formed of a flexible insulator and including a circuit supporting unit and a wiring supporting unit extending from the circuit supporting unit; a conductive circuit pattern unit formed on the circuit supporting unit; a conductive wiring unit formed on the wiring supporting unit, wherein the wiring unit is electrically connected to the circuit pattern unit and extends along the wiring supporting unit; circuit elements electrically connected to the circuit pattern unit and formed on one surface of the circuit supporting unit; and a reinforcement unit formed on an opposing surface of the circuit supporting unit and supporting the circuit supporting unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protection circuit module of a rechargeable battery, the module comprising:
 a substrate formed of a flexible insulator and comprising a circuit supporting unit and a wiring supporting unit formed on a first surface of the substrate and extending from the circuit supporting unit; 
 a conductive circuit pattern unit formed on the circuit supporting unit; 
 a conductive wiring unit formed on the wiring supporting unit, wherein the wiring unit is electrically connected to the circuit pattern unit and extends along the wiring supporting unit; 
 circuit elements electrically connected to the circuit pattern unit and formed on one surface of the circuit supporting unit; 
 a reinforcement unit made of a hard insulating substrate formed on an opposing surface of the circuit supporting unit so as to have the same area as the circuit supporting unit and supporting the circuit supporting unit wherein the reinforcement unit is directly mounted on the opposed surface of the circuit supporting unit; 
 a protection layer formed on the one surface of the substrate and covering the circuit pattern and wiring unit wherein the protection layer comprises an insulating film formed on the one surface of the substrate so as to have the same area as the circuit supporting unit; and 
 conductive terminal connection units, each terminal connection unit comprising one end connected to the circuit pattern unit and an opposing end formed at an edge of the circuit supporting unit, 
 wherein the protection layer, the circuit supporting unit, and the reinforcement unit comprise openings formed at a first edge of the protection layer, the circuit support unit and the reinforcing unit and extending inward therefrom so as to be aligned and corresponding to the terminal connection units and exposing the terminal connection units. 
 
     
     
       2. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement unit is formed as a rigid insulating substrate and is adhered to the opposing surface of the circuit supporting unit by an adhesive. 
     
     
       3. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement unit is formed on the opposing surface of the circuit supporting unit by molding a resin. 
     
     
       4. The module of  claim 1 , further comprising conductive terminal connection units, each terminal connection unit comprising one end connected to the circuit pattern unit and an opposing end formed at an edge of the circuit supporting unit,
 wherein the protection layer, the circuit supporting unit, and the reinforcement unit comprise openings corresponding to the terminal connection units and exposing the terminal connection units. 
 
     
     
       5. The module of  claim 4 , wherein each of the terminal connection units comprises a plurality of electrode layers, and
 wherein the electrode layers are separable from each other at the opposing end of each of the terminal connection units. 
 
     
     
       6. The module of  claim 1 , wherein external terminals are electrically connected to the wiring unit externally exposed for electrical connection to an external device, and formed at an end of the wiring supporting unit.